Apparatus for adjusting garments



(No Model.) 1

' L. H. DEANER.

APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING GARMENIS. No. 546,132. Patented Sept. 10,1895.

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ANDREW 5.5RAHAM. PHUTO-UTHQWASINNGIONDC UNITED S'rnrns a'rnn'r Fries.

LEE HARMON DEAN-ER, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTlNG GARMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,132, datedSeptember 10, 1895.

Application filed December 26, 189* Serial No. 532,953.. (lie modeLl ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEE HARMON DEANER, acitizen of the United States,residing at Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forAdjusting Garments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to a machine for adjusting or applying anovercoat or other heavy garment to the person of the wearer, the objectbeing to provide an easily-operating and effective apparatus for thispurpose which will dispense with the necessity that often arises,especially in the case of aged or infirm persons, of having anotherperson present to assist when one desires to put on his overcoat; andthe invention consists, essentially, in the construction, arrangement,and combination of parts, and in certain details and peculiaritiesthereof, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a frontelevation of my improved machine for adjusting or applying an overcoat,showing the position assumed by the several mechanical parts when thecoat is suspended from the machine. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of themachine, showing the parts in the position that they occupy when thecoat is being released. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the machine when inthe position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. i is an enlarged detail side view ofone pair of fingers which grip and hold the overcoat. Fig. 5 is a frontview of one of the stationary fingers which are fastened to themachineand in conjunction with which the movable fingers operate. Fig. 6 is aplan view of one of the levers for regulating the adjustment of themachine to suit the diiferentheighis of different persons who may useit.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

A designates the main frame of my machine or apparatus, which ispreferably made of wood and is securely fastened to the wall of abuilding, said frame being of any desired shape and form as, forinstance, rectangular, as shown in the drawingsand being designed toaccommodate therewith the several mechanical parts which constitute theoperative mechanism of the apparatus. This frame is furnished withoppositely-located grooves a a, which are cut in the vertical sidepieces of the' frame and run substantially the entire length of thesame, said grooves being for the purpose of receiving and guiding theends of certain slides which move up and down therein during the workingof the machine. Of course I do not intend to be restricted to making thegrooves a a in precisely the manner indicated; but I can otherwiseprovide the vertical portions of the frame with guides which will affordsuitable ways for the vertical movement of the sliding parts that carrythe mechanical features whereby the function of the apparatus is carriedinto practical effect.

Near the upper end of the frame A is a horizontal crossbar B, the endsof which enter and are adapted to slide within the grooves a a in theframe A. This cross-bar B is adapted, therefore, to be raised or loweredto suit the different people who may usethe machine. It is provided neareachend with a lever b, which is shown more definitely in the enlargeddetail plan View of Fig. 6. This lever b is pivoted between thehorizontal jaws of the double-jawed bracket 0, which is fastened to thefront face of the cross-bar B. A spring I) is secured to the outer faceof the bar B and bears upon the inside length of the lever b, acting,therefore, to force the outer or handle end of the lever b normallyoutward, so that the end of the lever which is beyond the fulcrum may beforced normally inward, as shown in Fig. 6. This end of the lever isadapted to enter any one of a series of apertures in the vertical plate0, which is let into the face of the side upright of the main frame A,as is clearly shown in Figs. 1, :2, and 6. Then the lever?) is thus inengagement with any one of these apertures, it will act as a lock tohold the bar B in position, and there being alever at each end of thebar, both 1e vers operating similarly in connection with the aperturedplates 0 c, it will be evident that the bar B can be held fixedly in anyhorizontal position to which it may be adjusted ICO within the limits ofadjustment permitted by the series of openings in the plates 0. hem everthe operator desires to readjust the position of the bar 13, he issimply required to press upon the ends of the levers b and disengage thesaid levers from the plates 0, and then, after readjusting the positionof bar B, the same can be again locked in its new position easily. At ashort distance below the cross-barB are two cross-bars D D, which arelikewise horizontal, and the ends of which enter and slide within thegrooves a a. These cross-bars are coupled together at each end by meansof the connectingbrackets d d. They together constitute the slide whichis designed to carry the coat. The brackets (Z are formed at their outerupper ends with inclined integral stationary fingers d, the faces ofwhich are preferably corrugated, as shown. -D D designate movablefingers or levers which are pivoted to the brackets d at the upper endof the stationary fingers d by means of the horizontal pivotpins (ZThese movable fingers D have a general curved form, and the portionsthereof opposite to the stationary fingers (1 are corrugated orserratedto conform with the adjacent faces of the stationary fingers in orderthat the overcoat may be gripped tightly between them. These movablefingers D extend backward toward the slide-frame D D, and springs d arel ocated between them and the top edges of the brackets d. Said springs61 are flat springs, which are preferably secured at one end to thebrackets and are tensioned underneath the oppositelysituated portions ofthe fingers D, so that their effect is normally to keep the movable jawspressed closely upon the stationary jaws,in orderthat the overcoat canbeheld tightly between them. Of course I do not wish to be restricted tothe precise form and exact arrangement of these fingers or jaws as Ihave described them, but reserve the liberty of varying them in anydesired manner, provided they will perform substantially the samefunction and purpose as that already indicated.

Near the base of the frame A are also two cross-bars Elf, which togetherconstitute another sliding frame, their ends being received into groovesa a and the bars being coupled together by the foot-rest F, which issecurely bolted to both of the bars, as shown, and by means of which themachine is operated. Through the slides D D and the slide-bar 13 passesa rectangular rod G, as shown in Figs. land 2, said rectangular rodbeing fastened rigidly to the bar B by means of nuts placed upon theends of the rods at points above and below the said bar, as is clearlyshown in the drawings, the screw-threaded portion of each end of the rodbeing made long enough so as to permit of an adjustment of the rod. Thisrod G passes loosely through the slide-bars D D, and hence said bars D Dare limited in their movement within the grooves a a by the length ofthe rod G. It will be obvious by referring to the drawings that the barsD D cannot drop lower than the lower end of the rod G.

To the bar B, at points adjacent to the end of the rectangular rod G,aresecured the eyebolts g g, to which are fastened the ends of the ropeH. These ropes pass over the pulleys h, which are pivoted in the upperor top connecting-bar of the'main frame A. After passing around thesepulleys h, the ropes ll. extend vertically downward until they reach theupper one of the two cross-bars E E, where said ropes pass around thepulleys 2' 2', which are pivoted in said upper slide-bar E. The ropesthen again pass upward and around pulleys K K, pivoted to the cross-barB. After passing around these pulleys K K, the ropes again pass downwardand are conn ected to the eyebolts Z Z, which are fastened in the upperone of the s1ide-bars D D. These eyebolts Z Z are large enough to beadjustable for the purpose of properly regulating the tension of theropes, so that they may be made of even length and may have the samedral't power. Thus it will be seen how these ropes connect the severalslides together and enable the frame at the base of the machine tooperate upon the fingencarrying frame for the purpose of raising orlowering the latter. it will be observed that the slides D D arepreferably made heavier than the slide B, so that when the machine isnot in use the weight of the slide D D will overbalance the weight ofthe slide E E, and consequently the slide D D will drop into itslowermost position, where it is upheld by the lower end-of therectangular rod G. At the top of the main frame A may be located, ifdesired, a wire hatholder m, bent into suitable shape and held in placeby means of the clips 71 on the upper cross-bar of the main frame, whichclips receive the bent. ends of the wire-holder, as shown.

In operating this machine, the person who may have just taken off hiscoat and desires to suspend it upon the machine in such position thatthe'machine may assist him in putting it on again when he is ready willstep to the machine, put his foot upon the foot rest F, and press thelatter downward. This action will raise the finger-carrying frame D D,and when the movable fingers D D, which are, carried by said frame,reach in their forward movement the underside of the crossbar B andstrike against the latter, as they are represented as doing in Fig. 2,the result will be to open the fingers or jaws, inasmuch as thecross-bar B is stationary. The position of the fingers when they arethus opened is shown in Fig. 4:. The person. can then easily insert thecollar or lapel of his coat between the open fingers at both sides ofthe machine, the under side of the coat of course being outward towardthe user. The user will then lift his foot from the foot-rest, and theframe D, being preferably of heavier weight than the frame E, andespecially so since it carries the overcoat, will then descend and thesprings d will, as soon as the mov: able fingers D are released fromcontact with the cross-bar B, operate to force the fingers together, sothat they will firmly grasp the overcoat between them and keep itsuspended. on, he will approach the machine and stand with his backthereto, and as he puts his arms into the sleeves will at the same timepress down the foot-rest with his foot, thereby raising the slide D fromwhich the coat is suspended until the movable fingers I) thereon, reachand come in contact with the crossbar B, when the fingers will beopened, and as the coat will now be upon the back of the wearer thefingers may be released and the wearer will be at liberty to move awayfrom the machine. The position of the bar B, as shown in the drawings,is near the top of the frame A, and is supposed to suit the height of atall person. When the machine is to be adjusted to suit the height of ashorter man, the crossbar can have its position regulated in the manneralready specified.

Although I have herein described and represented a machine adapted to befastened to the wall of a building, yet I do not wish to be restrictedto locating the machine in this manner, but may construct the apparatuswith a self-sustaining frame; also, if-desired, the frame may be soconstructed as to carry the mechanical elements of several machines. Itmay be portable, if desired.

Numerous changes in the exact construction, arrangement, and applicationof the several parts may obviously be made without departing from theinvention.

By the peculiar arrangement of the ropes and pulleys the finger-slidetravels twice the distance of the foot-slide, and consequently enablesthe operator to work the machine conveniently without having to lift hisfoot too high. \Vhile the upper bar can be adjusted to suit thedifferent heights of persons, the rope arrangement allows the foot-restto remain at the same height from the floor.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a garment-adjusting machine, the combination of a main frame, arigid slide bar at the upper end thereof having pivoted locking leverswhich permit it to have a vertical adjustment, a vertically-movableframe IVhen the person is ready to put his coat below said bar, and thepairs of grippers carried thereby and operative to engage a garment,said grippers being arranged to strike the upper bar when they arelifted so as to release the garment, substantially as described.

2. In a garment adjusting machine, the combination of the main frame,the stationary bar at the upper end which is capable of adjustment, thepairs of spring-provided gripping fingers, a vertically-movable slidecar rying said fingers, a foot-operated slide at the base of the mainframe and connections be tween it and the finger-carrying slide.

3. In a garmentadjusting machine, the combination with the main frame,of a vertically-movable slide, autoerratically-operating gripperscarried thereby for engaging the garment, an adjustable upper baragainst which the grippers strike and open a footoperated slide at thebase of the machine and connections between it and the gripper-carryingslide, substantially as specified.

at. In a garmentadjusting machine, the combination with a main frame, ofastationary bar situated near the top of the frame, a movable framesliding on the main frame, automaticallymovable fingers carried by saidmovable frame, said fingers being closed by springs and opened bystriking against the upper bar, a movable foot operated frame at thebase of the machine and cords or cables connecting the several frames,substantially as described.

5. The combination of the main frame, a normally stationary bar at theupper end thereof, locking levers carried thereby for adjusting theposition of said bar, a movable frame which slides in ways in the mainframe, a stop rod attached to the stationary bar and passing through themovable frame so as to limit its movement, automatically-operatingfingers carried by the movable frame, a footoperated frame at the baseof the machine, cables or cords connecting the movable frame with thefoot-operated frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I Ztlfifi my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

LEE HARMON DEANER.

Witnesses:

ROBERT Warn, NELLIE ROACH.

